Council gives more than £50,000 to ensure children’s charity can stay open

Hop Skip and Jump, based at Shaw Ridge, was threatened with immediate closure after administrators were called in due to the charity’s precarious financial position.

But the centre will stay open for at least the next 13 weeks after councillors stepped in to keep it going.

Councillor Mary Martin, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “I am pleased to be able to announce this £55,000 support package for Hop Skip and Jump. The charity provides an extremely valuable service for children and young adults with special needs and we do not want to see the Swindon centre close.

“We are working closely with the administrators while a new operator can be found.”

Hop Skip and Jump provides a variety of activities for the children and young people to engage with. There are indoor and outdoor play facilities, all with an emphasis on self-development and discovery.

There are sensory rooms, soft play facilities and art rooms that the children can enjoy while their parents receive a much-needed break.

Administrators Quantuma are being supported by the Council to find another provider for the service.

Graham Randall, Quantuma partner and joint administrator, said: “We are delighted to have agreed a solution with Swindon Borough Council to enable the Hop Skip and Jump Swindon centre to remain open and continue to offer the excellent level of care which service users have come to expect.

“We are collaborating to explore all of the possible options, which includes finding a new provider to take over the service, as well as talking to existing providers with a view to securing an appropriate long-term partner who is able to undertake the services of Hop Skip and Jump.”